High-tension switch mechanism



Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,837

D. BEATTIE HIGH TENSION SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 15, 1926 16 )ZZJ I Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'DAVID BEATTIE, 0F GREEN SBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY AND IN- DUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF

PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GREEN SBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- HIGH-TENSION SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed January 13, 1926. Serial in. 81,027.

, Switches exposed to atmospheric condi-.

t-ions are sometimes diflicult to operate or becon'ie even inoperative, due to the formation of sleet or ice upon and around the contact-making parts. Obstructions of this kind then cause considerable delay and inconvenience, thereby materially aggravating conditions.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide switch mechanism of the type referred to in which the difficulties mentioned are minimized or avoided.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a ,switch mechanism Fig. 2 is a plan view; and

Fig. 3 is an end View thereof.

In the drawings 10 represents a switch arm, preferably of tubular construction, deiining at one end a knife blade portion 11 and terminating at its opposite end in forked hinge portion 12, which is preferably a separate casting secured to the arm 10.

The blade portion 11 is received between the usual jaws 14 which are supported on an clement 15 and forced into frictional engagement with the blade portion 11 by means of springs 16. The form of the jaw construction is well known in the art and does 'not form part of the invention. The element 15 is supported upon a stationary insulator 17. The forked casting 12 is pivoted upon a horizontal pin 18 secured to a post 19. The latter, in turn, is mounted upon the insulator 20 for movement about a vertical axis. As clearly appears from Figs. 1 and 3, the jaws 14 are in vertical alignment and the blade portion his, in horizontal position in circuit-closing position.

Intermediate the insulators 17 and 20 is disposed an insulator 21 having a generally arcuate movement and, in particular, a circular movement about avertical axis defined by the pivot stud 22. A forked link 23 has its common end connected by means of a ball and socket joint, as shown, or any other suitable form of universal motion connection, to the top'of the insulator 21 and the free ends are journaled upon pins extending'from opposite sides of the casting 12.

The operation is as follows:

The insulator 21, which normally, i. e. while the switch is closed, is disposed slightly laterally of the vertical plane through the arm 10 on the side away from the mouth of the jaws 14, is moved in the direction in which the arm 10 must move to open the circuit. During the first stage of this movement of the insulator 21, the arm 10 is turned on the pivot post 19, efi'ectinga lateral movement of the blade portion 11 out of the jaws. It should be notedthat during this first stage of movement the arc described by the insulator is approximately about the pivot post 19 as. center, i. e. the

distance between the insulator 21 and the pivot post 19 does not appreciably vary during the motion of the insulator between its original position and a like position on the opposite side of the vertical plane through The return movement is of course the counterpart of the opening movement. The switch arm 10 has firstaprincipally vertical movement. Then the vertical movement gradually decreases while the horizontal movement increases until finally the blade portion assuming a purely horizontal movement swings between the aws 14.

By the arrangement described the movable contact elements or the spring actuated I connection 26 in vertical alignment'with the pivot stud 22 afforded by arms connected to the insulator 21 and the insulator 20, respectlvely, as is known in the art.

Relative axial motion between the pivot post 19 and its support may be prevented by any suitable means.

I claim:

1. In switch mechanism, the combination with contact elements disposed for coopera tion with a horizontally movable switch blade, of a switch arm defining at one end a blade portion and pivotally supported at its other end for movement in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, and means adapted to rotate said switch arm and operative to move the arm in a horizontal direction into and out of contact with-the contact elements and in a-vertical direction during the balance of the opening and closing move ment. a.

'2. Device according to claim 1 in which the means for moving the switch arm include a forked link, theforked ends of which are connected to the arm by a substantially horizontal pivot connection and means for moving the common end of the link in a substantially horizontal arcuate path eccentric to the axis of rotation of the arm in the horizontal plane.

3. H gh-tension switch mechanism, comprising two stationary insulators, one of said insulators carrying a switch arm mounted for movement in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, the other of the'insulators carrying contact elements having substantially horizontal contact surfaces, means at the free end of the arm defining a switch blade adapted to engage the contact 'ele ments, an insulator" supported for arcuate movement about the insulator carrying the switch arm and a forked link, the common end of which is connected to the movable insulator by a universal joint and the forked end of which 'is pivotally connected to'the arm on a substant ally horizontal axis near the pivot end of the arm, the arcuate path prescribed for the movement of the insulator eing such that the distance of the latter from the axis of rotation of the arm in the horizontal plane remains. substantially constant during part of the movement and decreases during the balance of the movement for opening the switch. v

4. Construction according to claim 3 in which the pivotal connection of the arm includes a vertical post revolubly mounted upon the supporting insulator and a horizontal hinge connection between the said post and the arm.

5. In combination, a switch terminal, a

switch member pivotally supported upon a horizontal iand upon'a vertical axis, a link having one end connected to said switch member at a polnt spaced from sald axes, a

rotary operating means, as universal joint,

connection between the other end of said link and said operating means, the said universal joint being located approximately at the.

level of said horizontal axis and so spaced from the axis of said operating means that the efi'ective thrust exerted upon said switch member by said link as the operating means is rotated changes from a horizontal to a vertical direction.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

. DAVID BEATTIE. 

